Abstract: An intraocular lens system adapted to be implanted within a generally circular opening in an anterior wall of the capsular bag which normally contains the crystalline lens of an eye. The intraocular lens system includes a lens body having an annular groove which is formed in a peripheral portion thereof in a plane substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens body. The lens body includes an optically effective portion located radially inside the annular groove, and an anterior lens portion and a posterior lens portion located on respective anterior and posterior sides of the annular groove. The intraocular lens system is secured in position within the circular opening such that an annular flap portion of the capsular bag which surrounds the circular opening is accommodated within the annular grove in the lens body.

Abstract: A technique and device for relieving intraocular pressure within the eye with a reduced risk of inflammation that may be caused by the retrograde flow of fluid and inflammatory debris back into the eye after a glaucoma surgical procedure has been performed. A unidirectional drainage device is implanted to drain fluids away from the eye. The device allows fluid flow away from the eye with a minimal pressure gradient (5 mm Hg. or less), and includes means to prevent retrograde flow. At the time of implantation, the drainage passageway is initially restricted or closed by a flow restrictor at a point downstream from the minimal pressure gradient unidirectional valve. Between the unidirectional valve and flow restrictor is a drainage trap in which debris is receivable without restricting the operativeness of the unidirectional valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable garment for catching body fluids or excretions and particularly to a garment provided with a plurality of flaps extending longitudinally side-by-side along laterally opposite sides of the garment and normally biased by their own elastic shrinking potential to turn up.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant for insertion into a cement filled intramedullary canal including a plurality of spacers formed from PMMA. The spacers include a body having a frontal portion and a trailing portion. The body of the spacers narrowing with distance from said frontal portion toward said trailing portion. The narrowing body of the spacers interrupting the flow of cement along the implant body as the body is inserted into a cement filled intramedullary canal. The narrowing trailing portion of the spacers cause the cement flow to smoothly re-attach to the implant body without creating substantial disturbances or vortexes in the cement.

Abstract: A prosthetic limb (10) for a below-the-elbow amputee is constructed having a removable effector (16) removably mounted in a mount (18) having semicircular bands (20) set by "hand lapped" construction in sides of a body (12) near a closed end (22) thereof. The effector (16) is offset from the body (12) and is provided with supports (60, 62), each having a C-shaped slot (64, 66) for receiving a horizontally oriented bar, such as that on a chainsaw. A pair of semi-circular gripping members (68, 70) are pivotally mounted by pins (72, 74) near a closed end of the slots (64, 66) and are biased closed by a C-shaped leaf spring (90) disposed about an outer periphery of the members (68, 70).

Abstract: A pin holder support is provided which is suitable for external bone fixation utilizing pins inserted into bone. The device comprises a clamp for gripping the bone pins a deflection member, and a jaw which positions the device along a fixation bar. The deflection member is situated between the clamp and the jaw and has on one face, a rotation means for cooperation with a complementary means of the clamp or of the jaw such that the combination ensures rotatability of the clamp with respect to the jaw and, on its opposite face, a curved guide means for cooperation with a complementary curved means of the other of the jaw or of the clamp, respectively, so as to ensure ability of the clamp to swivel with respect to the jaw.

Abstract: A device facilitating remote removal of an article implanted beneath the skin. In one embodiment, the implantable article comprises a band which is operatively placed to encircle an organ such as the stomach. Once in position, the band is tightened and held securely with sutures thereby preventing the stomach-encircling band from opening. If, following implantation, it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the band, a remotely actuated releasing wire, the end of which wire is implanted at an accessible site beneath the subcutaneous tissue permits the removal of the band without major surgery. In one embodiment, the sutures securing the band in an encircling position are conveniently removed by means of a wire within the band which wire, when retracted by remote activation, releases the retaining sutures and frees the band for removal. Actual removal of the released band is accomplished by pulling the band out of the abdomen and through the superficial incision by means of the wire.

Abstract: Multifocal lenses are formed having a substantially circular central region having a first optical power, surrounded by a plurality of concentric ring regions which alternate between at least two optical powers, one of which may be the first optical power. Preferably, the central region is powered for near vision. For example, one embodiment of the invention is a bifocal lens having a central near-vision portion, a first concentric ring region powered for distance vision, and a second concentric ring region having the same power as the central region.

Abstract: A prosthetic foot includes a prosthesis body having a toe region disposed in a front part of the prosthetic foot, and a one-piece insert which is provided in the prosthesis body and which absorbs and transmits stresses imposed on the prosthesis body. The insert enables at least a plantar and dorsal deflection as well as axial compression of the prosthesis body, and has an approximately S-shaped design in the longitudinal section of the prosthetic foot. The insert includes a top horizontal section which forms a top edge of the prosthetic foot, and a bottom horizontal section which is of an extended construction compared with the top section and which has a free end which extends into the toe region of the prosthesis body, so that a high elasticity and a high energy storage capacity of the front part of the prosthetic foot are achieved. A front inclined section extends at an obtuse angle from the top section to form a rigid angular element.

Abstract: A microsurgical method and nucleotome for fragmentizing a cataractous endonucleus in a single cutting manuever is disclosed whereby the endonucleus is split into multiple fragments for quick and easy extraction.

Abstract: A prosthesis includes a tubular, curved shaft having a shaft cavity, a length, proximal and distal ends; and an outer diameter and a wall thickness both decreasing towards the distal end. The shaft cavity is closed throughout, and the tubular shaft has, in a zone of the distal end, a flattened, essentially plate-shaped wall portion having a length coextensive with the length of the shaft, and a thickness of approximately between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.

Abstract: A removeable and adjustable prosthetic insert disposed between the stump of a limb and the socket of a prosthesis is comprised of a high strength, pliable polymeric material within which are formed a plurality of spaced air pockets, or voids, which are coupled together by a series of connecting channels, or passages. Using an air valve extending through the polymeric material and coupled to the closed air pocket/channel system, the air pockets may be inflated to fill the stump/socket interspace and provide a tight-fitting, air cushioned prosthetic socket attachment. The air inflatable prosthetic insert can accommodate changes in the condition of the stump and applies a uniform prosthetic attaching force thereto. Other embodiments also employ an inflatable air cushion and make use of spaced, solid spheres disposed between air passages arranged in a grid-like array; and pinched tubing with interconnecting air passages to form a series of inflatable nodules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to implants (intraocular lenses) for implantation in the human eyeball to replace the natural crystalline lens. In general, the implant includes a body which includes anterior and posterior surfaces, an axis, and a periphery. The body is formed of a transparent material having an index of refraction which varies with a predetermined profile from the axis to the periphery of the body. In a first embodiment, the body is formed of one element having a convex-convex shape and an index of refraction which decreases in the direction away from the axis of the body. For dual-focus capabilities, the body has an inner and an outer zone with separate gradient profiles and surface curvatures, or an inner zone which is offset from the axis and is the center of the gradient profile. The inner and outer zones provide focusing for nearby and distant objects respectively.

Abstract: A modular prosthesis system having generally planar bone contact surface with an undercut edge around the periphery of the surface and includes augmentation devices which can be attached to the planar surface with a cam locking mechanism secured to the undercut edge to increase the thickness of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A femoral stem prosthesis including a stem tapering from a proximal end to a distal end, and having a primary zone of taper and a secondary zone of taper. The secondary zone of taper, located at the distal end of the stem, has a larger angle of taper than that of the primary zone of taper, but substantially less than the taper in prior art stems. In the secondary zone of taper, the stem gradually tapers away from the femoral bone to avoid a sudden change in stress level in the bone at the distal stem tip, thus avoiding the incidence of thigh pain. The stem of the inventive prosthesis preferably includes longitudinal channels to increase its flexibility and preferably has a trapezoidal cross-sectional geometry to resist rotational forces and to provide multi-plane stability within the femur, thereby providing effective stress transfer to the femur.

Abstract: An intraocular lens comprising a deformable optic and a fixation member for use in supporting the optic in the eye. The fixation member includes an annulus surrounding the optic and a plurality of resilient struts interconnecting the optic with the annulus. The struts tend to be compressively loaded by the posterior capsule of the eye after implantation. To prevent buckling of the resilient struts in an axial direction due to the imposed compressive loads, the struts are curved in a circumferential direction when in an unloaded state, thereby being predisposed to further bow in the same circumferential direction upon imposition of the compressive load. This predisposition to bow circumferentially avoids severe problems incurred if the struts are permitted to buckle axially, such as tilting of the optic and impaired vision for the patient.

Abstract: A lense for keratometry and a keratotome for making an incision for receiving such a lense. The lense comprises an optical zone and an anchoring zone with a sloping shape such that this zone can be inserted under a strip disengaged from the cornea of the receiving eyeball via a tapering incision diverging from the cornea. The keratotome according to the invention is adapted to perform such an incision. The result is that the lense is anchored in the cornea in a more efficient, less traumatic and more aesthetic manner.

Abstract: A vertebral connecting plate assembly includes a vertebral connecting plate which is provided, on its opposite ends, with vertebra connecting portions to be connected to associated vertebral members or bodies. The vertebra connecting portions have threaded holes, and the set screws of the present invention have engaging screw portion, which are engaged in the associated threaded holes of the vertebral connecting plate. Thrusting screw portions of the set screws, which are thrust in the vertebral members or bodies, have a pitch (P1) larger than the pitch (P2) of the engaging screw portions.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided an implantable prosthetic device inflatable by a self-contained resealable valve in combination with an external locator for determining the position of the valve. The prosthesis includes a flexible outer envelope defining a closed lumen and having a valve attached to an area of the envelope with indicia on the valve responsive to the external locator for determining the position of the valve. A plurality of spaced sensors are each fixedly arrayed on the locator so that when the sensors are in a certain non-juxtaposed relationship with the indicia the sensors orientate with one another, signifying a true location of the valve. A multi-compartmental design having a tethered valve for selective inflation of an inner lumen is also disclosed. The tissue-contacting surface of the outer envelope is micro-textured to minimize tissue capsule contracture.

Abstract: An improved breast prosthesis for insertion under the sub-cutaneous tissue or muscle of the chest wall formed as a plurality of compartments each containing silicone gel or the like. The surface area to volume ratio of the apical compartment is smaller than the basilar one so that the appearance of projection is produced and pressure on the apex results in basilar deformation, reducing the perception of apical firmness. Preferably the skin is of PTFE possibly reducing capsular contractive and the perception of excessive firmness.